Sean Nealis broke a deadlock in the 87th minute and the New York Red Bulls won their fourth straight game, 2-1 against the host Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Nealis scored on a volley with the outside of his right foot from a cross by Patryk Klimala to give New York (12-11-7, 43 points) six wins and two ties in the past eight games.
Cristian Casseres Jr. put New York ahead in the 7th minute prior to Miguel Berry tying it 12 minutes later for the Crew (10-13-8, 38 points).
Klimala missed a penalty kick in the 53rd minute that would have put the Red Bulls in the lead after making his previous three attempts from the spot this season.
Eloy Room denied the Red Bulls in the 79th minute with a near-post save after Kyle Duncan dribbled around several defenders.
On the Red Bulls’ first goal, Casseres got inside position on Derrick Etienne Jr. for a header off a corner kick by Tom Edwards. Casseres has six goals.
The Red Bulls’ defense had not allowed a goal for 362 minutes until Berry antagonized them again to make it 1-1. He was inside the 6-yard box to redirect a cross by Steven Moreira.
It was Berry’s sixth goal in just 15 games (six starts) and his first since scoring the 88th-minute winner vs. the Red Bulls on Sept. 14 to cap a comeback. The Red Bulls haven’t lost since.
Moreira earned his first MLS assist in his fourth game since the French defender was signed Aug. 23.
The Crew were minus leading scorer Gyasi Zardes (nine goals), who sustained a sprained left knee against Nashville SC on Wednesday that will keep him out two-to-four weeks.
Crew coach Caleb Porters missed his second straight game after testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson was in charge.
On Wednesday, the Crew host Orlando City while the Red Bulls play at D.C. United.
–Field Level Media
